Statutory notice: This post is not a book review. Neither is it directly related to books.
I know that first week of 2008 is already over, and I seem to have missed my bus for “2007 roundup” season. But then, did you expect anything else which proudly puts “Lazy” in the title?
So, 2007 was a good year for me, from blogging perspective, at least. In sad news, Talons… proved short-lived, even after getting 131 posts in just 1 year. But then, in good news, I decided to take my book reviews seriously, and started this blog. I moved all the reviews from Adlergedanke to this blog, and decided to be a bit structured in my hobby (I know that doesn’t make much sense).
In last 4 short months, I have learnt a lot from this move from casual blogger to serious reviewer. But the top 7 things I have learnt in this short period (and some questions I am asking myself and you, the readers, as a result) are, in no particular order:
- Maybe I have made a mistake in putting “lazy” in title, as it seems to have encouraged the readers to be lazy in contributing on this blog. I seriously hope that is the only reason why the ratio of legitimate comments to spam on this blog is now pushing 1:2.5.
So guys, be a bit more active. As I said, the point of this blog is not a soliloquy, but a dialogue. A place to discuss anything and everything about books. - It is easy to write reviews because you want to write about a book. It is hard to read book because you have to write a review. For one thing, I found that I start compiling the review in my head right from the first page. Not that it takes away anything from the book, at least it does not feel that way.
This will probably be the topmost reason which I will have to consider if I think of making this into a profession. - Everybody tells me that it is better to be consistent, which makes it easier for the readers to identify your content. But, lately I think I have become a bit too structured in writing reviews. Every time I sit to write any review, I seem to be falling in a particular flow of content.
Again, this is for you. Tell me if the posts are getting too repetitive and too ordered. I may be experimenting with the content this year, so please tell me if I am getting too obscure, or too weird. And don’t be miserly to tell me if you like anything. - It is hard to take sides in reviews vs discussions debate. If I write for people who haven’t read the books, I need to summarize the story. If I go for discussion of the book, then I can go in much better detail of the book, because I can presume people know what I am talking about.
This is something I will toy around with in this year now. Got any particular side you like? - Statistically speaking, I have yet to cross the 3-figures mark consistently. The best day yet was 102, and the best month crossed 1000. I need to be more active in promotion and networking this year. That would be my main aim this year, which I hope will help point 1.
- That said, I seem to have touched something with my reviews of marathi books (Vyakti ani Valli, Mrityunjaya, Asa Mi Asami). There is a consistent traffic coming there from search terms. This is something I need to look into. The marathi book review series will continue, if just because I would like more people to know about these great books and authors. Shame that most of the books I will write about haven’t been translated into any other language, and so only marathi readers will be able to enjoy the books.
While we are on search terms, is it only my blog, or are people searching for “Goblet of Fire” more than any other Harry Potter book? - This is not strictly 2007, but I must add this: It seems people need to read many other books, including Aristotle, before they are deemed worthy enough to read even the name of a particular book series. I unfortunately cannot elaborate on the same topic because I haven’t.
Oh, and being pre-emptive, I have added a comment policy in F.A.Q. page, while re-designing the page.
So, what did you learn on my blog this year? And don’t forget to answer the questions I raised above. As always, any suggestions for improving the blg are always welcome.
I am taking a short sabbatical from posting any reviews on this blog for this month. Next week, I will probably round up the best of and worst of books I read in 2007. So be patient, and stick around for a bit even if there nothing book-related this month.
That said, you never know…
Gulp.
Exams and work.
Sorry
I’m back to my regular-loyal-faithful-reader-self now.
And structure is good, it makes for coherence.
I like Lazy Habits lotsly. Linked to it and all.
be a bit more active? lol
oh thanks amey-chan!! im not very interested in reading books but im interested in how uve been doing.
thats why i come here. hahaha~
Oi, I’ve lost count of the number of times I tried reading Adlergedanke (randamthots.blogspot.com) – the page just hangs and then I have to kill the browser altogether!!
(and here he is saying we don’t comment!!)
right, now that I’m done being defensive..
I agree with point 2 – I’m falling into that trap too these days.. as to point 3, I think every reviewer has his/her own style.. and it helps to be consistent and structured ‘coz it’s easy to interpret.. if I’ve read all your reviews, and then read the books you reviewed, I know exactly what you mean when you say its good or boring or just ok.. I can’t do that if you dont maintain the same structure! (did I even make sense?)
And please to let me know how you intend to implement point 5. Me is very interested 🙂
@Princess: Thanku… it is for readers like you that I write 😉
So, you saying you like everything here?
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@Nikichan: Come on… I am sure you will like reading books. But then, I don’t care what reason you visit my blog, as long as you are here 😀
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@Priya: Must be some problem with the scripts. Wonder if that’s why there are no more comments on Adlergedanke.
As I have said before (many times), the overhaul is overdue. Please to forgive.
And like Princess, do you think the structure is good? Do read my “other” reviews (on Adlergedanke), and do tell me if it is repetitive/boring. I know many gurus tell us to stick to familiar (read, trademark) post formats, but I just wanted to hear from people who read my blog.
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@All: A lot opf promises here. Once I get out of this time period (I literally don’t get time to think now), I will be back, Schwarzenegger promise.
And then, maybe (hopefully) you will wish I hadn’t gone on a break…
First, I know it has become a kind of habit if I say I wanted to come here in ‘fursat’ and comment. But that’s true. I had bookmarked this post to comment and here I am doing so.
Also I once again echo the same problem cited by Priya as well. Your main blog hangs and MANY times I’ve closed the browser before commenting. Probably it is, as you said, because of the 3rd party plugins/scripts.
For this blog, if I don’t comment don’t ever think that I don’t read. Yes, the Harry Potters and like are not my genre. 😉
The structure and other things looks good. Only thing I’ll ask for more is the summary of books which the readers have not read.. to tempt them into reading those books and then it can take form of discussions. I mean I prefer and would have done that.
Don’t worry about the stats part, you have seen it has started to move up. Mine has gone down considerably in last 2 months.. mostly because I couldn’t reply to comments on time ? But now I prefer it that way, I have given full feed to reader so many of my readers read thru reader, if they feel like commenting, they do. This saves time/effort for both and if I see my feedcount, my readership hasn’t really fallen down. My only concern now is Technorati rank which has to build again as I have shifted to my domain. Earlier the authority was 68.
Ohh, this comment is bigger than your post now. 😛
Err.. is there any way of me getting to know when you reply to this comment ? By e-mail or so ? Or do I have to keep checking ?
@Cuckoo: Now that’s what I call a comment. Why doesn’t this happen for every post, I wonder? (And there are other books that Harry Potter on this blog, believe me).
Since I have only the post summaries on my front page, WordPress truncates the feed to the same length. I don’t want to keep content from subscribers, but I cannot help it, unless I want the entire posts on the front page, increasing the length of page.
As for the “summary of ths books”, do you mean I should have more of storyline in the posts than I have now? And while we are on storyline, do you want me to add spoiler warnings (I might need them if I have to give more of the story)
I have changed Adlergedanke a lot over last 2-3 days, so try that again… And you can subscribe to comments feed to keep track of the comments and responses. If you are using WordPress software, you can go to “My Comments” under the Dashboard where you see all your comments and the following comments.
Ha Ha.. I believe in quality not quantity. And of course not “nice post” type comments. 😛
Yes, I know there are other books as well but most of them are not read by me so I don’t think I’ll do justice by commenting on those. But trust me, I am keeping an eye on this blog. 😉
Summary posts- Understood. I might also do that. 🙂
Yes, I meant more of storyline in a way that should tempt the reader to read the book.
Adlergedanke-I’ll check.
Yes, I am using WordPress software but I can’t see “my comments” under dashboard. FYI, I have 3 dashboards. 😛
So, how is it going at Maryland?
This tag you ought to like.
(Tag, you’re it).
@cuckoo: hmm… sure, but you can always comment on the post, if you want to read the book, any similar books you read and so on. there are so many ways to discuss in here.
The summary suggestion is under consideration. Will keep you posted 😉
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@Princess: Oh yes. As I said, this would be perfect for getting back online, rather than a random book review.